Cheese contains natural compounds that trigger the same pleasure centers in the brain as addictive drugs.

The primary protein found in dairy products is casein, which makes up about 80% of the protein in cow's milk. During the cheese-making process, milk is concentrated, meaning a pound of cheese requires roughly 10 pounds of milk. This process results in extremely high levels of casein. When the human body digests this protein, it breaks it down into shorter chains of amino acids known as casomorphins.Casomorphins are technically opioid peptides. Research conducted by the University of Michigan and published in the journal PLOS ONE in 2015 identified cheese as one of the most frequently cited 'addictive' foods due to this chemical process. These peptides are small enough to cross the blood-brain barrier and bind to the same mu-opioid receptors that respond to substances like morphine or endorphins.Once these receptors are activated, the brain releases dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with reward and reinforcement. From an evolutionary perspective, scientists believe these compounds evolved in mammalian milk to ensure that infants remain calm and continue nursing to survive. Because cheese is a concentrated form of milk, the physiological effect is significantly more potent in adults than drinking a glass of milk.While the 'high' from cheese is mild and does not cause the destructive behaviors associated with hard drugs, it explains why many people find it difficult to stop eating once they start. Dr. Neal Barnard of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine has famously referred to cheese as 'dairy crack' due to this specific biological mechanism. This biochemical link provides a scientific basis for the intense cravings many people experience for pizza and other cheese-heavy dishes.